Festival flavour aplenty this week as Goodwood and Galway take centre stage

Monday

The Galway festival begins without the traditional energetic crowd but the schedule retains some familiarity, with the 2m1f Connacht Hotel Handicap (6.45) the feature contest on the opening day.

Top-class hurdler Sharjah heads the field of 20, but Willie Mullins' Grade 1 star has five stablemates in opposition, including Great White Shark and Tiger Tap Tap.

Connacht Hotel Handicap card

Market Rasen and Redcar provide the afternoon fare in Britain, with nine races at Windsor in the evening.

Tuesday

The Qatar Goodwood festival starts with a bang as staying supremo Stradivarius bids to win a fourth Goodwood Cup (3.15). It should be a race to savour as he faces stiff competition from Irish Derby winner Santiago, who he has to give 15lbs to.

Santiago: set to clash with Stradivarius at GoodwoodCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Group-race action is aplenty at the track, with Chesham winner Battleground hoping to take the step up in class in his stride in the Vintage Stakes (2.15).

Stradivarius is not the only runner at Goodwood on Tuesday who has dominated a Group race in recent years, with Sir Dancealot tasked with trying to win a third Lennox Stakes (2.45) in a row.

There is Listed action at Galway in the Corrib Fillies Stakes (5.45) to complement the competitive Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap (6.45).

Wednesday

The Sussex Stakes (3.15) looks a fascinating affair, with Guineas winners Kameko and Siskin taking on Mohaather and Circus Maximus in what could be the race of the week at Goodwood.

The Group 1 mile event should follow a typically quick dash down the straight at the Sussex Downs course in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes (2.45).

Sussex Stakes card

The Tote-sponsored Plate takes its usual pride of place on Galway's day three card (6.45). Won in the past by Balko Des Flos, Road To Riches and Carlingford Lough, it is set to attract another competitive field, possibly including Galvin, Easy Game, Early Doors and Peregrine Run.

Thursday

The popular Deirdre bids for a second Nassau Stakes success (3.15) at Goodwood, where she is likely to face Falmouth scorer Nazeef and impressive Prix Saint Alary winner Tawkeel.

Goodwood's card also features the Richmond Stakes (2.15) and the Gordon Stakes (2.45), where Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat could clash with Mogul, English King and Emissary.

Khalifa Sat: returns to his happy hunting ground at GoodwoodCredit: George Selwyn/Pool via Getty Images

The Guinness Galway Hurdle (6.45) is a huge attraction and this year's field looks as intriguing as ever. Topweight Aramon heads the market, with fellow Grade 1 winner Felix Desjy close in behind.

The Grade 3 Rockshore Novice Chase (5.45) is another highlight, with entries from Joseph O'Brien, Gordon Elliott and Jessica Harrington.

Friday

The blisteringly fast Battaash is set to bid for a record fourth consecutive win in the King George Qatar Stakes (3.15). Hamdan Al Maktoum's superstar will be a red-hot favourite to enter the history books, but classy fillies Liberty Beach and Glass Slippers cannot be dismissed.

King George Stakes card

There's plenty of quality action elsewhere on day four at Goodwood, with the Glorious Stakes (3.45), Thoroughbred Stakes (2.15) and Oak Tree Stakes (1.45) providing plenty of interest.

There are also meetings from Pontefract, Lingfield, Galway and Wolverhampton.

Saturday

The highlight on the final day of Goodwood's meeting is the Unibet Stewards' Cup (3.35), won previously by dual Nunthorpe hero Borderlescott, and the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00).

Khaadem (blue, far side) surges clear in the Unibet Stewards' Cup at Goodwood in 2019Credit: Edward Whitaker

Galway's penultimate day is built around the 1m4f Galway Shopping Centre Handicap (5.15), while Newmarket hosts Listed action in the Further Flight Stakes (3.50).

Sunday

An unusual Galway festival comes to its conclusion on Sunday, and on a quieter day in Britain there is action from Doncaster, Leicester and Sandown.

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